Detailed sailboat specifications and datasheets since 2015
MetricSI (m)
Imperial & Metricboth
ImperialIMP (ft)

Surprise (Fin keel) vs Surprise (Twin keel) vs Surprise (Swing keel)

Main featuresSurprise Fin keelSurprise Twin keelSurprise Swing keel
Model
Surprise
Surprise
Surprise
Version
Fin keel
Twin keel
Swing keel
Hull type
Monohull
Monohull
Monohull
Category
One design sailboat
One design sailboat
One design sailboat
Sailboat builder
Archambault & BG Race
Archambault & BG Race
Archambault & BG Race
Sailboat designer
Country
France
France
France
Construction
GRP (glass reinforced polyester):
- Hull: Single skin fiberglass polyester
- Deck: Sandwich balsa fiberglass polyester
GRP (glass reinforced polyester):
- Hull: Single skin fiberglass polyester
- Deck: Sandwich balsa fiberglass polyester
GRP (glass reinforced polyester):
- Hull: Single skin fiberglass polyester
- Deck: Sandwich balsa fiberglass polyester
Number of hulls built
About 1600
About 1600
About 1600
First built hull
1977
1977
1977
Last built hull
Still in production
Still in production
Still in production
Appendages
Keel : fin without bulb
Twin keel : fin without bulb
Lifting keel : swing keel
Helm
Single tiller
Single tiller
Single tiller
Rudder
Single spade rudder
Single spade rudder
Single transom hung rudder
Unsinkable
No
No
No
Trailerable
Yes
Yes
Yes
EC design category
 iThe CE design category indicates the ability to cope with certain weather conditions (the sailboat is designed for these conditions)

A: Wind < force 9, Waves < 10m
B: Wind < force 8, Waves < 8m
C: Wind < force 6, Waves < 4m
D: Wind < force 4, Waves < 0,5m
C
C
C
Former French navigation category
3
3
3
Standard public price ex. VAT (indicative only)
39270 2017
39270 2017
39270 2017
 
Main dimensionsSurprise Fin keelSurprise Twin keelSurprise Swing keel
Hull length
25’ 1”7.65 m
25’ 1”7.65 m
25’ 1”7.65 m
Waterline length
21’ 8”6.6 m
21’ 8”6.6 m
21’ 8”6.6 m
Beam (width)
8’ 1”2.48 m
8’ 1”2.48 m
8’ 1”2.48 m
Draft
5’ 2”1.6 m
3’ 4”1 m
5’ 2”1.6 m
Draft when appendages up
2’ 7”0.8 m
Mast height from DWL
32’ 2”9.8 m
32’ 2”9.8 m
32’ 2”9.8 m
Light displacement (MLC)
2976 lb1350 kg
2976 lb1350 kg
2976 lb1350 kg
Ballast weight
1323 lb600 kg
1323 lb600 kg
1323 lb600 kg
Ballast type
Cast iron
Cast iron
Cast iron
French customs tonnage
3.49 Tx
3.49 Tx
3.49 Tx
 
Rig and sailsSurprise Fin keelSurprise Twin keelSurprise Swing keel
Upwind sail area
328 ft²30.5 m²
328 ft²30.5 m²
328 ft²30.5 m²
Downwind sail area
662 ft²61.5 m²
662 ft²61.5 m²
662 ft²61.5 m²
Mainsail area
178 ft²16.5 m²
178 ft²16.5 m²
178 ft²16.5 m²
Genoa area
151 ft²14 m²
151 ft²14 m²
151 ft²14 m²
Jib area
108 ft²10 m²
108 ft²10 m²
108 ft²10 m²
Symmetric spinnaker area
484 ft²45 m²
484 ft²45 m²
484 ft²45 m²
I
 iFore triangle height (from mast foot to fore stay top attachment)
26’ 5”8.05 m
26’ 5”8.05 m
26’ 5”8.05 m
J
 iFore triangle base (from mast foot to bottom of forestay)
6’1.83 m
6’1.83 m
6’1.83 m
P
 iMainsail hoist measurement (from tack to head)
29’ 6”9 m
29’ 6”9 m
29’ 6”9 m
E
 iMainsail foot measurement (from tack to clew)
10’ 10”3.3 m
10’ 10”3.3 m
10’ 10”3.3 m
Rigging type
Sloop Marconi 7/8
Sloop Marconi 7/8
Sloop Marconi 7/8
Mast configuration
Deck stepped mast
Deck stepped mast
Deck stepped mast
Rotating spars
No
No
No
Number of levels of spreaders
1
1
1
Spreaders angle
Swept-back
Swept-back
Swept-back
Spars construction
Aluminum spars
Aluminum spars
Aluminum spars
Standing rigging
1x19 strand wire continuous
1x19 strand wire continuous
1x19 strand wire continuous
 
PerformancesSurprise Fin keelSurprise Twin keelSurprise Swing keel
IOR rating
 iIOR, or International Offshore Rule, was a measurement rule system used internationally for ocean racing. It allows boats of different sizes and designs to race each other fairly. Therefore, by comparing these values, we can have an indication of the relative speed of 2 boats.
23.6
23.6
23.6
HN (French rating)
 iHN or "Handicap Nationale" is an empirical rating system used in France allowing various monohulls, of different sizes and designs, to race each other fairly. It is particularly suitable for cruiser and cruiser-racer. Therefore, by comparing these values, we can have an indication of the relative speed of 2 boats.
19.5
19.5
19.5
Upwind sail area to displacement
 iThe ratio sail area to displacement is obtained by dividing the sail area by the boat's displaced volume to the power two-thirds.

The ratio sail area to displacement can be used to compare the relative sail plan of different sailboats no matter what their size.

Upwind: under 18 the ratio indicates a cruise oriented sailboat with limited performances especially in light wind, while over 25 it indicates a fast sailboat.
269 ft²/T24.97 m²/T
269 ft²/T24.97 m²/T
269 ft²/T24.97 m²/T
Downwind sail area to displacement
 iThe ratio sail area to displacement is obtained by dividing the sail area by the boat's displaced volume to the power two-thirds.

The ratio sail area to displacement can be used to compare the relative sail plan of different sailboats no matter what their size.
542 ft²/T50.35 m²/T
542 ft²/T50.35 m²/T
542 ft²/T50.35 m²/T
Displacement-length ratio (DLR)
 iThe Displacement Length Ratio (DLR) is a figure that points out the boat's weight compared to its waterline length. The DLR is obtained by dividing the boat's displacement in tons by the cube of one one-hundredth of the waterline length (in feet).
The DLR can be used to compare the relative mass of different sailboats no matter what their length:

a DLR less than 180 is indicative of a really light sailboat (race boat made for planning), while a DLR greater than 300 is indicative of a heavy cruising sailboat.
133
133
133
Ballast ratio
 iThe Ballast ratio is an indicator of stability; it is obtained by dividing the boat's displacement by the mass of the ballast. Since the stability depends also of the hull shapes and the position of the center of gravity, only the boats with similar ballast arrangements and hull shapes should be compared.

The higher the ballast ratio is, the greater is the stability.
44 %
44 %
44 %
Critical hull speed
 iAs a ship moves in the water, it creates standing waves that oppose its movement. This effect increases dramatically the resistance when the boat reaches a speed-length ratio (speed-length ratio is the ratio between the speed in knots and the square root of the waterline length in feet) of about 1.2 (corresponding to a Froude Number of 0.35) . This very sharp rise in resistance, between speed-length ratio of 1.2 to 1.5, is insurmountable for heavy sailboats and so becomes an apparent barrier. This leads to the concept of "hull speed".
The hull speed is obtained by multiplying the square root of the waterline length (in feet) by 1.34.
6.24 knots
6.24 knots
6.24 knots
 
Auxiliary engineSurprise Fin keelSurprise Twin keelSurprise Swing keel
Engine(s)
Outboard engine
Outboard engine
Outboard engine
Engine(s) power
10 HP
10 HP
10 HP
 
Accommodations and layoutSurprise Fin keelSurprise Twin keelSurprise Swing keel
Cockpit
Closed aft cockpit
Closed aft cockpit
Closed aft cockpit
Berth(s)
4
4
4
Maximum headroom
4’ 10”1.45 m
4’ 10”1.45 m
4’ 10”1.45 m
 
SaloonSurprise Fin keelSurprise Twin keelSurprise Swing keel
Maximum headroom
4’ 6”1.36 m
4’ 6”1.36 m
4’ 6”1.36 m
Saloon table length
2’ 1”0.63 m
2’ 1”0.63 m
2’ 1”0.63 m
Saloon table width
1’ 11”0.59 m
1’ 11”0.59 m
1’ 11”0.59 m
Berth length
6’ 7”2 m
6’ 7”2 m
6’ 7”2 m
Berth width
2’0.6 m
2’0.6 m
2’0.6 m
 
Fore cabinSurprise Fin keelSurprise Twin keelSurprise Swing keel
Berth length
5’ 10”1.77 m
5’ 10”1.77 m
5’ 10”1.77 m
Berth width (head/feet)
4’ 7”1.4 m / 1’ 4”0.4 m
4’ 7”1.4 m / 1’ 4”0.4 m
4’ 7”1.4 m / 1’ 4”0.4 m
 
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